pixijs-ticker

app.ticker runs registered callbacks every frame and drives app.render() at UPDATE_PRIORITY.LOW. Each callback receives the Ticker instance; read deltaTime as a frame-rate-independent multiplier (≈1.0 at 60fps) or deltaMS for real-time calculations.

Quick Start

app.ticker.add((ticker) => {
  sprite.rotation += 0.01 * ticker.deltaTime;
  sprite.x += (200 / 1000) * ticker.deltaMS;
});

app.ticker.add(
  (ticker) => {
    updatePhysics(ticker.deltaMS);
  },
  undefined,
  UPDATE_PRIORITY.HIGH,
);

app.ticker.maxFPS = 30;
app.ticker.speed = 0.5;

sprite.onRender = () => {
  sprite.scale.x = Math.sin(performance.now() / 500);
};

Related skills: pixijs-application (Application setup and sharedTicker option), pixijs-performance (frame rate optimization), pixijs-migration-v8 (v7 ticker signature changes).

Core Patterns

Time units

The Ticker exposes three timing values, each for different use cases:

import { Application } from "pixi.js";

const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });

app.ticker.add((ticker) => {
  // deltaTime: dimensionless scalar, ~1.0 at 60fps
  sprite.rotation += 0.1 * ticker.deltaTime;

  // deltaMS: real milliseconds (speed-scaled, capped)
  sprite.x += (200 / 1000) * ticker.deltaMS; // 200 pixels per second

  // elapsedMS: raw milliseconds (no scaling, no cap)
  console.log(`Raw frame time: ${ticker.elapsedMS}ms`);
});